Governor Chris #Christie is reeling from the Bridge-Gate scandal. He had previously said that his staff had nothing to do with it. Later, documents revealed that his staff did know and were the cause of it. Christie had a few heads rolling. He still maintains the he had no personal knowledge or involvement in the in the lane closures. He fired Deputy Chief of Staff Bridget Anne Kelly, because she lied to him, not because she intentionally instigated the traffic jam in a vindictive fit. I think people want to believe Christie. Investigators are now looking at the environment on Christie’s staff that allowed this behavior to take place. I wrote about the working environment in my e-book, Leadership for New Managers: Book Two, http://smashwords.com/b/300090. I wrote that there are two aspects involved: climate and culture. Leaders shape the climate and culture in which they and their staffs interact. Here is what I wrote about climate:“Climate is how members feel about the organization and comes from shared perceptions and attitudes about the organization’s daily functioning. Climate affects motivation and the trust associates feel for their team and leader/managers. Climate is generally a short-term experience, depending upon a network of personalities within the organization that changes as people come and go. One of the leader’s primary responsibilities is to maintain an ethical climate that supports development of character. When an organization’s ethical climate nurtures ethical behavior, people will think, feel, and act ethically. They will internalize the aspects of sound character.”Here is what I wrote about the culture:“Culture is a longer lasting and more complex set of shared expectations than climate. While climate is a reflection of how people think and feel about their organization now, culture consists of the shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterize the larger organization over time. It is deeply rooted in long-held beliefs and customs. Leader/managers establish a climate consistent with the culture of the institution. They use the culture to let members of the organization know they are part of something bigger than just they are.”I think in this case, the climate is at issue. If the climate was one where vindictive behavior was allowed and even encouraged, then Christie is responsible for that and that might end his political aspirations. If it was an isolated incident, then he has to repair the climate and environment. New York City Mayor Bill #de Blasio now has his own scandal. He was photographed eating a pizza with a knife and fork. That is not as bad as the Toronto Mayor Rob Ford smoking a bong, but for New Yorker it is very serious. New Yorkers believe pizza should be folded and eaten with the hands.